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In October of 2010 Ruddy
Encarnacion felt unlucky to only
get a draw against Jean Pierre
Bauwens, so he believed he had
unfinished business in the
long-awaited rematch on Friday
night, December 1, with the
vacant World Boxing Federation
(WBF) Intercontinental
Lightweight title on the line.
Once again the Spain-based
Dominican War-Horse travelled to
his opponents back-yard, as the
second go-around took place at
the same venue as the original
encounter, the Topsporthal
Vlanderen in Ghent, Belgium.
A loud and enthusiastic crowd
did their part to push the local
hero to victory, but to no
avail. In a clash of former
European Union Champions,
Encarnacion was the more active
and accurate puncher of the two,
hell-bend to do everything in
his power to get the victory
this time.
After twelve entertaining rounds
of boxing, the visitor got the
unanimous decision as judges
Jean-Marcel Nartz and Philippe
Wouters scored the fight
116-112, while judge Mufadel
Elghazaoui had it slightly
closer at 116-113. Referee was
Brahim Ait Aadi.
38-year-old Encarnacion, now
38-26-4 (18), has taken every
challenge put in front of his
since turning professional in
1999. He only won two of his
first ten outings, but has since
been an example that losing
fights doesn't necessarily mean
the end of the road.
Some would call him a
gate-keeper, some might label
him as a journeyman, but
whatever the description he is a
quality fighter, and Encarnacion
has achieved more than most in
winning Spanish, European Union
and WBF Intercontinental
championships.
Jean Pierre Bauwens, also
something of a veteran despite
being only twenty-nine, drops to
42-5-2 (24). Naturally very
disappointed in the outcome
against Encarnacion, he is still
young enough to regroup and make
another run.
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